Internet users may face slow traffic this week: Tarana

Internet users in the country would face slow traffic for three days this week due to maintenance of country’s first submarine cable, state minister for posts and telecommunications Tarana Halim said on Sunday.

“We will not be disconnected, rather may face slow internet traffic on October 24, 25 and 26,” she told media at her ministry office this noon.

Referring to the adjustment of bandwidth with country’s second submarine cable (SE-ME-WE-5), Tarana said the overhauling of first cable would not pose much trouble as Bangladesh has also been connected with six international terrestrial cables (ITCs).

An official of Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) said the cable SEA-ME-WE-4, a consortium of 16 telecommunications companies, was scheduled to do the overhauling work under the Bay of Bengal for three days from October 6 for the first time of the cable’s 12-year history, but it was rescheduled to begin on October 22. Due to depression in the Bay, finally the work would begin on October 24.

Earlier, BSCCL Managing Director Mashiur Rahman told BSS that they had arranged the alternative transit for IIGs (International Internet Gateways) while the IPLCs (International Private Leased Circuits) secured bandwidth from second submarine cable.

He, however, said some sites may face slow traffic for using alternative routes during the repair.

The second submarine cable with a total capacity of 1500 Gbps was launched commercially in September this year. Besides, the first cable has a capacity of nearly 300 Gbps bandwidth.

At present, Bangladesh uses about 450 Gbps bandwidth, of which the BSCCL is providing 250 Gbps. The remaining bandwidth is being imported through six international terrestrial (ITC) cables.

Source: BSS